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INTRODUCTION TO JAZZ
History and Features of Jazz Music
What is Jazz??

Jazz is a kind of music in which
improvisation is typically an important
part.

In most jazz performances, players play
solos which they make up on the spot,
which requires considerable skill.
What is Jazz?? (cont.)

There is tremendous variety in jazz, but
most jazz is very rhythmic, has a forward
momentum called "swing," and uses
"bent" or "blue" notes.
What is Jazz?? (cont.)

You can often hear "call--and--response"
patterns in jazz, in which one instrument,
voice, or part of the band answers
another.
The Nature of Jazz

Jazz musicians place a high value on
finding their own sound and style, and
that means, two trumpeters will sound
very different.
The Nature of Jazz (cont.)

Jazz musicians like to put play their songs
in their own distinct styles, and so you
might listen to a dozen different jazz
recordings of the same song, but each will
sound different.
The Nature of Jazz (cont.)

Jazz is about making something familiar--a
familiar song--into something fresh! And
about making something shared--a tune
that everyone knows--into something
personal.
The Nature of Jazz (cont.)

Those are just some of the reasons that
jazz is a great art form, and why some
people consider it "America's classical
music."
History
Jazz developed in the United States in the
very early part of the 20th century.
 New Orleans played a key role in this
development.
 The city's population was diverse.

History (cont.)
There were people of African, French,
Caribbean, Italian, German, Mexican, and
American Indian, as well as English,
descent who interacted with one another.
 African-American musical traditions mixed
with others and gradually jazz emerged
from a blend of ragtime, marches,
ragtime, blues, and other kinds of music.

History (cont.)

At first jazz was mostly for dancing.
(In later years, people would sit and listen
to it.)
History (cont.)
After the first recordings of jazz were
made in 1917, the music spread widely
and developed rapidly.
 The evolution of jazz was led by a series
of brilliant musicians such as Louis
Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker,
and Miles Davis.

History (cont.)
Jazz developed a series of different styles
including traditional jazz, swing, bebop,
cool jazz, smooth jazz and jazz rock,
among others.
 Jazz spread from the United States to
many parts of the world, and today jazz
musicians--and jazz festivals--can be
found everywhere!
